Thread advancing reel



Dec. 11, 1951 H. VON KOHORN THREAD ADVANCING REEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1947 INVENTOR. .HEA/IZY VoN KOJ-IORN HTTOPA/EYJ Dec. 11, 1951 H. VONKOHORN THREAD ADVANCING REEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1947 INVENTOR.

HENQY VON KOHOQN Wlouzrrfl ww QTTORNEYJ' H. VON KOHORN 2,578,330

THREAD ADVANCING REEL Dec. 11, 1951 Filed Jan. 23, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY r ATTORNEY!- Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THREAD ADVANCING REEL Henry Von Kohorn, Westchester County, N. Y.

Application January 23, 1947, Serial No. 723,716

11 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to an improved thread storage device of the continuously advancing type which is highly suitable for the aftertreatment of rayon or the like.

In the manufacture of rayon by the viscose or similar methods, it is desirable, from the standpoint of quality and process control, to subject the rayon to the necessary aftertreating stages in the form of an unobstructed thread. At present, the freshly spun rayon is generally wound into a cake or upon a bobbin or formed into a skein and, as such, subjected to the aftertreating and drying steps. Not only is it difiicult by these latter methods to achieve a high uniformity in the final product, but they are highly time consuming. In contrast to this, it has been found that by aftertreating and drying the freshly spun rayon as a single unobstructed thread, a highly uniform final product is obtainable. Moreover, the time involved between the spinning of the rayon filaments and the winding of the finished yarn is only a few minutes.

The machinery and equipment presently employed in the liquid aftertreatment and drying of rayon as a single thread are, however, extremely complicated and expensive and only in limited cases is their use warranted. The aforesaid machinery and equipment generally include several reels upon each of which the rayon thread is continuously wound at one end and discharged from the other end. The thread is positioned on each reel as a longitudinally advancing helix and the storage time of the thread on each reel is determined by the speed and size of the reel and the pitch of the helix. These should be so correlated that the thread on the reel is exposed for the desired period to the treating fluid which may be sprayed or otherwise applied to the advancing thread. The maintenance and upkeep costs of this machinery and equipment are high thereby offsetting any advantages which may be gained by the low production time. Moreover, in order to maintain such equipment and machinery in good repair, the constant attendance of many highly trained technicians is required.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for the treatment of thread or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved continuously advancing P thread storage device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved thread advancing reel of simple, rugged and inexpensive construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved thread advancing reel which is highly suitable for the aftertreatment of rayon or the like.

The above and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description together with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a side view shown partially broken away of one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view partially in section of another embodiment of the present invention taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2; Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4; Fig. 6 is a front view of a further embodiment of the present invention; Fig. '7 is a side view partially diagrammatic and Fig. 8 is a sectional detailed view thereof taken along line 8--8 of Fig. 6.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a rotating cylinder is provided with an arrangement for impressing in the peripheral surface of the cylinder a helical valley or groove which rotates relative to the cylinder. A thread which is wound on the cylinder is disposed in the helical groove and is urged longitudinally along the cylinder from the feed end to the discharge end as a result of the'advancing pitch of the helical groove.

Reference is now made to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof wherein I0 designates a hollow cylinder formed of rubber' or other suitable resilient material and is sealed at its free or outer end with a rigid reinforcing disc II. A hollow shaft 12 is provided with a flanged portion [3 which rigidly engages the inner end of the resilient cylinder thereby providing an arrangement for rotating the cylinder about the axis of the hollow shaft i2. Nested within the cylinder [0 and supported. by the shaft I4 which projects through the hollow shaft I2 is a screw member IS. The screw member l6 consists of a cylindrical body portion having formed thereon a smooth helical ridge ll extending from one end of the screw member Hi to the other end thereof. The ridge ll of the screw member IE impresses a corresponding ridge on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the cylinder ID, the cylinder ridges defining between their adjacent convolutions a smooth helical valley or groove I8 which provides a suitable resting and guiding means for a thread or rope.

The screw member I6 is maintained stationary by means of a shaft l4 whereas the cylinder i is rotated around its longitudinal axis by means of shaft H; the helical groove l8 impressed in the cylinder ill thus advances from one end of the cylinder ill to the other end thereof relative to the surface of the cylinder. A thread or rope to be stored for treatment is deposited in the helical groove it at the inner or the feed end of the cylinder I3. The thread or rope is drawn or wound by the rotating cylinder 10 and is urged to the free end thereof by the helical groove l8 which is so pitched by the screw member 16 as to advance to the free end of the cylinder l0 upon suitable rotation of the cylinder M. It should be noted that the screw member [6 should exert a minimum of drag on the cylinder l0 and to this end the helical ridge ll may be formed of freely rotatable roller or ball bearings. Moreover, by simultaneously rotating the cylinder l0 and the screw member l6 so as to reduce the relative rotati on between these two members, the speed of advancement of the helical groove I8 may be reduced thus increasing the storage time of the thread or rope on the cylinder II].

In Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention, which embodiment consists essentially of a rotatable cylindrical reel provided with a series of longitudinal slits. Positioned in each of the slits is an elongated thread advancing member which is supported by a pair of freely rotatable arms so that the elongated members are constrained to move in a parallelogram motion relative to said slits. When the arms are in an outward extended position the thread advancing members project beyond the surface of the reel and when they assume an innermost position the thread advancing members recede below the surface of the reel. In order to impart a suitable motion to the thread advancing members whereby they periodically project beyond the surface of the reel and simultaneously therewith advance forwardly and thereafter recede below the surface of the reel and move rearwardly, a magnetic system is provided which cooperates with elements either forming part of or secured to the thread advancing members which elements are formed of a magnetic material.

More particularly, a drive shaft 20 is provided with a disc shaped flange 2! which supports a series of cantilevered axially extending members 22. The axially extending members 22 constitute a reel having a cylindrical outer surface and longitudinal slits 23 between the adjacent members 22. Rotatably supported in one of each pair of walls defining the slits 23 is a pair of similar arms 26 which are disposed at opposite ends of the slits 23. Each pair of arms 26 support at their free ends an elongated thread advancing member 21 which may describe a parallelogram motion relative to the corresponding slit, that is, each point on the member 21 is constrained to move in a circular path relative to said slit. The members 2'! are formed at least in part of iron or any other similar magnetic material and are preferably coated with a substance which is chemically resistant to the treating liquids employed with the reel. An elongated magnet 30 is suitably supported and is positioned within the reel adjacent the upper inner surface thereof and so as not to interfere with the members 21 when they are in their innermost position. Similarly, a second elongated magnet 33 is positoined diametrically opposed to the magnet 30 and is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the reel so as not to interfere with the members 21 when they are in their outermost position. Further, a second pair of magnets 32 and 34 are positioned respectively adjacent the driven end and the free end of the reel and are diagonally opposed and in quadrature with respect to the magnets 30 and 33. The magnets 30, 32, 33 and 34 may be electromagnets which may include a suitably energized solenoid and a core formed of magnetic material or suitable high strength permanent magnets. Moreover, the magnet 33 may be dispensed with since the weight of the thread advancing members 21 and the centrifugal force exerted on them upon rotation of the reel will be sufficient to force them to their outermost position. It should be noted that the force exerted between the thread advancing member 21 and the cooperating magnets 30 or 32 must be enough to overcome the centrifugal force exerted on the thread advancing member 21.

Considering now the operation of the thread advancing reel above described, the reel is rotated by means of the shaft 20 and a thread to be treated is deposited upon the left or feed end of the reel or the thread may be wound as a helix upon the reel. As the reel rotates the thread advancing members or bars 21 describe continuous parallelogram motions with respect to the corresponding slits 23. The members 21, when they are in the upper or 0 position of the reel are urged radially inwardly by their weight and the attraction of the magnet 30 which are sufficient to overcome the centrifugal force exerted on the members 21. The reel rotates clockwise and the members 21 as they approach the position are urged longitudinally to the left by the magnet 32. Toward the position of the reel the members 21 are moved radially outwardly by the weight of the members 21, the centrifugal force and the attraction of the magnet 33. Approaching the 270 position the thread advancing members 21 are urged longitudinally to the right and radially inwardly by the magnet 34 and the members 21 return to their original 0 innermost position to thereafter continue the parallelogram motion.

A thread is deposited upon the left or feed end of the reel and is continuously fed at a rate substantially equal to the peripheral speed of the reel. The thread is rotated toward the 180-p0Sition of the reel where it is bulged or urged from the surface of the reel by the outwardly projecting members 21 which longitudinally advance the thread which is thereafter redeposited on the reel as the members 2! recede below the surface of the reel. Thus the thread is continuously advanced at the lower portion of the reel and is continuously wound upon the reel whereby there results a continuously advancing thread helix. The pitch of the helix and hence the storage time of the thread upon the reel is determined in part by the longitudinal advance of the members 21 as they project beyond the outer surface of the reel. This may be varied by adjusting the size of the arms 26 and the relative time of projection of the members 2'! beyond the outer surface of the reel.

Another embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing includes periodically projecting saw-tooth surfaces which cause the longitudinal advancement of a thread helically wound on a reel. A periodic movement of the members having saw-tooth edges is effected by a pair of magnets.

More particularly a drive shaft 40 supports by means of a disc shaped flange 4| a series of axially extending members 42 which define a reel.

5 Supported at the outer end of the members 42 is an annulus 43 which is provided with a channel shaped groove 44. Similarly, there is formed on the face of the flange 4| an annular groove 46 of the same shape as and confronting the groove 44.

There is disposed in each of the slits 41 separating adjacent members 42 longitudinal thread advancing members 48 which are slidably disposed within the slits 41. The thread advancing members 48 have a saw-toothshape contour on the outer edge, the inclined portions of the sawtooth shaped edge facin the forward end of the reel and the vertical portions of this edge facing the feed end of the reel. Moreover, the ends of the thread advancing members 48 are provided with suitable projections 49 which are engaged by the corresponding channel shaped grooves 46 and 44 thereby limiting the movement of the respective thread advancing members 48. Further, there is associated with each of the thread advancing members or bars 48 a pair, of springs 45 which urge the members 48 inwardly at least partly to overcome the effect of the centrifugal force of the rotating reel. The thread advancing members 48, when in their outwardly extended position, have their saw-tooth edges projecting beyond the outer surface of the reel, whereas when the members 48 are in their innermost position, the saw-tooth edges are completely retracted from the surface of the reel. Further, the members 48 are either formed of a magnetic material or are provided with portions or elements formed of a magnetic material. Cooperating with the reel and the advancing members 48 is a magnetic arrangement for periodically urging the thread advancing members 48 outwardly whereby to impart a longitudinal movement to a thread wound upon the reel. This magnetic arrangement includes a pair of longitudinal extending magnets 50 and 5|. The magnet 50 is disposed within the reel adjacent upper inner surface thereof. The magnet 5| is positioned outside the reel adjacent the lower outer surface thereof. Further the magnets 50 and 5| are so disposed as not to interfere with the radial movement of the thread advancing members 48. The magnets 50 and 5| may be electro-magnets or suitable permanent magnets.

Considering now the operation of the reel above described, as the reel is rotated the thread advancing members 48 approaching the position assume a radially withdrawn position as a result of their weight and the attraction of the magnet 50. The saw-tooth edges of these members 48 recede below the surface of the reel. Further, the thread advancing members 48 at the lower portion of the reel assume a position whereby the saw-tooth edge of the thread advancing members 48 project beyond the outer surface of the reel as a result of the weight of the members 48, the centrifugal force exerted thereon, and the attraction of the magnet A thread or rope is deposited on the reel and the reel rotated so as to wind the thread or rope thereon. As the thread approaches the lower position on the reel, the thread advancing members 48 which are urged outwardly, as above described, engage the thread on their inclined surfaces thereby urging the thread longitudinally toward the discharge end of the reel. It is thus apparent that there is formed on the reel a helix of thread or rope which is continuously advanced from the feed end of the reel to the discharge end thereof. Inasmuch as the thread or rope is under tension while on the reel, the forcing of the inclined edge against the thread moves the thread across the surface of the reel toward the discharge end. The pitch of the helix and hence the storage time of the thread on the reel, is dependent in part on the slope of the inclined portions of the sawtooth edge of the thread advancing members 48,

as well as upon the extent of projection of the saw-tooth edge beyond the surface of the reel.

In accordance with still a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a reel formed of a series of parallel rods cylindrically arranged, the reel and the individual rods being rotated in a related fashion or the rods alone being rotated. Each of the rods is so shaped that a thread in contact with the rod is urged to move longitudinally alon the rod for a fixed distance. Moreover, as the thread is advanced from one rod to the next, it is also advanced longitudinally so that there results a continuously advancing helix of thread.

Reference is now made to Figs. 6-8 of the drawing wherein the thread advancing reel consists of a pair of end discs 6| which are provided with a series of aligned circumferentially arranged longitudinal bores 62. Each pair of bores 62 rotatably supports a corresponding rod 63 and suitable arrangement is provided for rotating the individual rods 63 and the reel defined by said rods and the end supporting discs.

The rod rotating arrangement may include a series of friction wheels 64 keyed to axial extensions of the rods 63 and engaged by a drive ring or belt 65 which may be suitably driven and in turn rotates each of the rods 63. The rods 63 are of transverse circular cross section and of saw-tooth longitudinal cross section, so that each rod comprises a series of truncated conesarranged in end to end relationship. Moreover, the bases of the cones forming each rod are slightly longitudinally offset with respect to the corresponding truncated cones forming the rod immediately preceding. Further, the truncated cones are of such size and are so offset that the aggregate displacement of the cones, about a single circumference of the reel, is equal to the height of the individual truncatec cones.

Considering the operation of the device, a thread to be treated is wound upon the reel in the form of a helix which is the locus of the outer corners defining the separation between the ad jacent end to end truncated cones. The thread is fed at the left end of the reel and withdrawn under tension from the opposite end. The rods 63 are suitably rotated thereby causing the thread to be drawn circumferentially about the reel. Moreover, as a result of the sloping surfaces of the truncated cones forming the rods the thread is also urged longitudinally alon the reel. Thus, there results a continuously advancing helix of thread commencing at one end of the reel and terminating at the other end.

Although there has been described and illus trated several embodiments of the present invention, it is obvious that numerous omissions and.

alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Iclaim:

1. A thread storage device comprising a rotatable substantially cylindrical reel having formed therein a plurality of axially extending slits, a pair of freely rotatable arms mounted within each of said slits and supporting between their free ends longitudinally extending members, and magnetic means for imparting a continuous parallelogram motion to said members.

relative to the respective slits whereby they successively project beyond the surface of said reel and advance forwardly and then recede from the surface of said reel and move rearwardly.

2. A thread storage device comprising a rotatable hollow cylinder having formed therein a plurality of axially extending slits, a pair of freely rotatable arms mounted within each of said slits and supporting between their free ends longitudinally extendin members, and magnetic means for impartinga continuous parallelogram motion to said arms relative to the respective slits whereby they successively project beyond the surface of said reel and advance forwardly and then recede from the surface of said reel and move rearwardly.

3. A thread storage device comprising a rotatable substantially cylindrical hollow reel having formed therein a plurality of axially extending slits, a pair of freely rotatable arms mounted in association with each of said slits and supporting between their free ends longitudinally extending members, said members being provided with portions formed of a magnetic material, a first pair of diametrically opposed stationary magnets disposed adjacent the periphery of said reel one of said magnets being positioned within said reel and the other of said magnets being disposed exterior to said reel and a second pair of stationary magnets diagonally disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said reel.

4. A thread storage device comprising a rotatable substantially cylindrical hollow reel, a plurality of longitudinally extending members mounted on said reel and radially movable relative thereto, said members having saw-tooth shaped outer edges and having associated therewith a magnetic material, a first stationary magnet disposed within said reel adjacent the pe riphery thereof and adapted to urge radially inwardly said members which are in close proximity to said magnet and-a second stationary magnet positioned diametrically opposite to said first magnet adjacent the exterior surface of said reel and adapted to urge radially outwardly said members which are in close proximity to said second magnet.

5. A reel for advancing helices of yarn axially comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of spaced, circumferentially arranged longitudinally extending bars for carrying the yarn along the reel mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, and means including a magnet cooperating with said bars for reciprocating each of said bars radially in a pre-determined order.

6. A reel for advancing helices of yarn axially comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of spaced, circumferentially arranged longitudinally extending bars for carrying the yarn along the reel mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, and means including a stationary magnet cooperating with said bars for reciprocating each of said bars radially in a pre-determined order.

7. A reel for advancing helices of yarn axially, comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of spaced, circumferentially arranged, longitudinalmined order.

8. A reel for advancing helices of yarn axially, comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of spaced, circumferentially arranged, longitudinally extending bars for carrying the yarn along the reel mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, and means including a plurality of stationary magnets cooperating with said bars for reciprocating each of said bars radially and axially in a pre-determined order.

9. A reel for advancing helices of yarn axially, comprising a rotatable shaft. a plurality of spaced, circumferentially arranged, longitudinally extending bars for carrying the yarn along the reel mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, and means including a plurality of solenoids cooperating with said bars for reciprocating each of said bars radially and axially in a pre-determined order.

10. A reel for advancing helices of yarn axially, comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of spaced, circumferentially arranged, longitudinally extending bars, said bars having saw-tooth shaped outer edges and being mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, and means including a plurality of magnets cooperating with said bars for reciprocating each of said bars radidl- 11. A reel for advancing helices of yarn axially, comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of spaced, circumferentially arranged, longitudinally extending bars for carrying the yarn along the reel mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, and means including a magnet disposed adjacent the peripheral surface of said reel and adapted to urge said bars in a radial direction, and a magnet disposed adjacent an end face of said reel and adapted to urge said bars in a longitudinal direction whereby said bars are reciprocated radially and axially in a pre-determined order.

HENRY VON KOHORN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,241,723 Jordan May 13, 1941 2,378,211 Furness June 12, 1945 2,384,963 Pollak Sept. 18, 1945 2,424,489 Moritz July 22, 1947 2,424,490 Henry July 22, 1947 2,435,430 Ewing Feb. 3, 1948 2,459,270 Esmond Jan. 18, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 253,371 Germany Nov. 6, 1912 706,195 Germany May 20, 1941 

